Astros continue to work with Nationals on possible two-team spring training facility

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JUPITER, Fla. — The Astros and Nationals remain in the process of reviewing sites where they could relocate their spring training base in Florida. The teams met with officials from Palm Beach County, along Florida’s east coast, earlier in March.

“I think they’re studying the locations,” Crane said. “We’re still hopeful. We’ve met with the Nationals a couple of times and they’d like to do something down there. The Blue Jays backed out, for whatever reason. We really don’t know.

“(The next step) is just to approve the location and go ahead and verify the funding and go for it.”

Crane, who attended a 6-3 Astros road loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, said the team hopes to have something worked out by the end of the summer. Remaining in Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., doesn’t seem to be an option for Crane — at least as the complex stands now.

“All of the facilities have changed over the years,” Crane said. “When they went to Kissimmee, it was the best spot there was. Now it’s probably the worst compared to some of the other teams. We’re just trying to get something that’s a good location, easy for the fans to get in and out and the two-team facilities do make it more economical, not only generating revenue, but also using the facilities more like they do here (in Jupiter, Fla.)”

Crane downplayed the possibility the Astros could go to Fort Lauderdale or another location in Broward County, Florida. He acknowledged some talk about Boca Raton, Fla. — which is within Palm Beach County — but there’s going to be talk of many locations at this stage.

Palm Beach County remains the focus.

“To keep the baseball moving forward on the east coast (of Florida), we need some more teams down there,” Crane said. “I don’t think there’s any secret to that. These guys do not want to get on the bus like we did this morning and waste half a day. By the time you get in and out, it’s five hours.”

The Astros do feel they’re better off finding a two-team facility.

“To build a one-team deal, it’s 70 percent of the money,” Crane said. “So the economics are much better if you can get a two-team deal. The answer is, we would consider (a one-team site). But we would much prefer a two-team deal because you can get people committed to that because the economics are that much better.”

Crane feels that once the Astros can find a location, they’ll be able to find funding for it without too much trouble, and he said the team is willing to “pitch a little in if we can get something done.”

“It seems to me once the commitment’s there, that the funds are available — some of the cities have better bonding capabilities than others,” Crane said. “But the money … a lot of that is from the bed tax which is (derived from) people coming in here and staying. So if you live here, it’s not coming out of your pocket. And I think people need to understand that.

“I think people get concerned with traffic. It runs pretty smooth in here (in Jupiter where the Marlins and Cardinals train). Not a big burden on the community.”